Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is therefore created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the Industry - tourism providers - who need to be aware of visitors' specific access requirements and learn how to cater appropriately for their needs, so as to improve their competitiveness and sustainability.
Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the role of Policy Makers in fostering a suitable environment for cooperation and motivation of all stakeholders in order to lift up the tourism offer and environment for living.
Nominate and share your best practice project or policy in accessibility. Since 2012 the Zero Project has disseminated replicable and innovative solutions for the problems people with disabilities face, raising public awareness, stimulating reform and acting as a catalyst for a world without barriers.
The project, wholly financed by a grant from the Booking Cares Fund awarded to Ms. Xun Ji, a young disabled Chinese woman, will provide accessible tourism information services and cultural experience opportunities for both Chinese and foreign travellers with particular access needs, while at the same time engaging professionals in the travel industry, preparing them for the new caring economy.
The SABER project (“SAntiago, St. BEnedict, Routes Universal”) intends to create an accessible tourism offer by improving facilities and services along two existing itineraries of EU relevance: the “Way of St. James” in Spain, the most popular pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and the “St. Benedict Way” in Italy.
The Zero Project, an initiative of the Essl Foundation, focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally. It provides a platform where the most innovative and effective solutions to problems that persons with disabilities face, are shared. Its sole objective is to assist in creating a world without barriers. We take a solutions-based approach to our work.
The Pantou Accessible Tourism Directory was established initially as a data collection tool for a European Commission study of the supply of accessible tourism in Europe in 2014. It lists tourism suppliers who are able to offer accessible tourism services to customers with specific access needs, older persons, people with disabilities, families with young children and those who have a long-term health condition. Since the end of March, 2017 the Pantou Directory has been opened up to include accessible tourism suppliers based in any country - not only those located in Europe. Suppliers may register free of charge.
The Municipality of Ayia Napa, from the Cypriot side, and the Municipality of Rethymno with the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP), from the Greek side, after the approval of their proposal submitted under the third call of "Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Greece Cyprus 2007-2013", implements the project entitled "Agia Napa - Rethymno: Universally Accessible Cities" (acronym “Accessible Cities”).
8 May 2018. This study has undertaken literature reviews, user and experts’ questionnaires, interviews and workshop surveys, analysis of EU legislation, SWOT and Multi-Criteria Analysis, identification of best practices and analyses of case studies. This has led to a mapping of accessibility across the EU Member States (identifying relevant state clusters) for three different sectors: local transport, long-distance transport, and tourism. Specific policies, research priorities and recommendations are made per state clusters and for the EU, which can enhance accessibility in each of the three sectors.
